Strategy for selecting the appropriate International Journal

Isnani A. S. SuryonoPelatihan Penulisan Artikel Ilmiah untuk Jurnal Internasional, DRPM-UI, IASTH lt.

II, 4 November 2009 (2007)

What is GFA / IA??•Guide for Authors (GFA)??• Instruction to Authors (IA)??

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Why is GFA/IA important?

• Because, the only dictators allowed now are Editors of Journals, especially Journals that are considered highly significant to the scientific world, with high citation index

• If one would really like to have one’s article to be taken seriously & considered for acceptance by one’s own journal of choice, then there is no other way than to comply.. (that is obey, conform, follow.. hehehe)

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Common errors/problems

• A big question is whether the authors ever read and/or understood the purpose of any journal posting their GFA/IA at all! e.g.– Substance of submitted articles– Number of hard copies submitted– Format of articles submitted– Final checklist & submission form to be filled– Style of Referencing– etc

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Strategy for selecting international journal.

• Which journal is most appropriate for your article?

• Journals published by world-renowned publisher that can add value to your paper,

• High visibility with integrated platform,• High impact factor journal, that protects your

right as author & give benefit to authors.

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Scientific American indicated back in 1994

• USA > 20%• ..• Singapore 0.179%• ......• Indonesia 0.012%

How about now? Are we any better now?..

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Latest information

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Is it true that..

• Though they acknowledged the voluminous work being done here in our scientific world, but

• Our Scientific & Research efforts in the advancing science & technology world are merely represented as

–lost science in the third world??• Since they never reached their international

peers!!

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Indonesian scientific journals are• Published in very limited numbers (many only

300 copies/edition)• Circulated only locally (even privately)• Not subscribed by major libraries (not even

nationally)• Written in Indonesian some without English

abstracts..• Not being used as source of teaching material• Not well produced, managed & edited, thus• Ignored by the scientific world..

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Correlation between country productivity & of Publication & Citation (1997-2001)

Country Publication Citation GDP/cap

India 77.201 118.481 487China 115.339 341.519 989Germany 318.286 2.199.617 24.051Japan 336.858 1.852.271 31.407USA 1. 265.808 10.850.549 36.006

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Remember whenever public funds have been spent in supporting the research,

• It is the Scientist/Researcher’s duty to publish the findings for international consumption.• Should be considered a criminal act

not to do so!

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For this,

• Effort should be made to:– Identify the most suitable journal to publish,– A periodical with highest qualification possible,

• In making choice:– Necessary to be very certain about the uniqueness

of content of article– Ascertain field of knowledge/specialization

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Identify/classify the content, so as to suit the target audience/reader!

Whether the readers should be:• Super-super specialist scientists• Super specialist scientists• Specialists• Generalists

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Consider also whether the nature of the study is

• Interdisciplinary• Cross sectoral• Transdisciplinary

In thid case, consider which sector has the highest potential readers!

(Ecology, biotechnology, ethnobotany are modern disciplines which might be included in health researches)

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Among Journals frequented by prominent experts in field of research

Choose the ones which are with:• Highest acclaim with high citation index• Strongest impact in the advancing field of

disciplin concerned• Widest readers & often refered to (written in

UN languages)• Global aspiration in geographical scope, but• Short waiting list

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Some important websites to find major international journals

• Elsevier www.sciencedirect.com• Springer www.springer.com• Cambridge Univ Press (UK)

www.journals.cambridge.org• SCOPUS • Wiley Interscience

www.interscience.wiley.com

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After a journal has been chosen

• Study 2 or 3 latest issues or editions• Peruse carefully its GFA/IA (may be up to 64

pages long)• Find out whether there are further

instructions in its website• Ensure that instructions & all requirements

are fully understood• Read carefully 4 of 5 articles on related

subjects & compare to the GFA/IA

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After the style & format have been understood

• Start preparing the draft article, make sure that every items:– Title– Byline– Abstract– Punctuations– List of references

• Are wholly in line with the GFA/IA

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Follow the GFA/IA

• Very closely if one really wishes to be accepted by the target journal

• Small deviations may cause computer employed by journal to reject the article automatically!

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After completion of first draft, do

• Hand it over, with a copy of GFA/IA to 1 or 2 close associates to read & comment on it.

• Ask for criticisms & suggestions, then • Revise accordingly,• Prepare the final draft • Send to the journal chosen

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After sending the draft

• Take a rest, wait patiently for response... And• Pray• Pray• Pray• Upon receiving answer, promptly respond

accordingly!

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What next?

• Accepted: – CONGRATULATIONS!! – CELEBRATION!!– ENJOY!!– Then continue working in that field of choice, be more

productive and so on & on & on.. • Rejected:– Revise, revise, revise &– Send to other possible target journal– Don’t ever stop!!

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Reference

• Rifai MA*, Strategy in selecting the appropriate international Journals. Workshop on international scientific paper writing. DIKTI, Jakarta, 6-9 September 2007.

* Indonesian Academy of Sciences, c/o “Herbarium Bogoriense” Puslit Nasional Biologi-LIPI, Jalan Juanda 22, Bogor.

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